More offers, favorite for Kentucky DB

In this day and age of enhanced computer technology and the internet, more prospects are starting to use those tools to help them make decisions in the recruiting process.

One such player is Fort Campbell (Ky.) safety Marcus McClinton.

“I got an account for Rivals, and I’ve been using it to check out all these schools who have been recruiting me,” he said. “I’ve been studying their rosters and the players they’re recruiting at my position. It’s really helped me a lot.”

Any examples?

“Well, Illinois is one school that I like,” McClinton said. “It’s a good Big Ten school and I like their defensive style and the coaches. But when I was looking at their stuff, they are going after a lot of safeties, something like eight or nine. So when they tell me I’m the main guy or something like that, it makes you wonder. Same thing with Louisville. I like their program, too, but they’ve got a lot of safeties on their list.

“Kentucky is one school that has recruited me hard, and they aren’t going after many other guys at my position. They’ve told me that I’m the man they want, so that makes me feel real good about them.”

McClinton (6-2, 200, 4.5) has offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Illinois, Indiana, Wake Forest, Western Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky. He’s also receiving interest from Auburn, Arkansas, Alabama, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Michigan State and Purdue.

He’s coming off an all-state junior season which saw him record 109 tackles and six interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. He also had 821 total yards on offense and 16 touchdowns, plus two kick returns for scores.

“At this point, Kentucky’s my favorite,” he said. “I have high interest in them. My friend, Gabe (Wallace), just committed to them, so that’s good. Me and Gabe pretty much do everything together. You rarely find us separated, so you may take that as a hint.

“I like the atmosphere down there, too. We took a visit there for spring practice and went back for camp. I just felt real comfortable and in the right place. I like the people a lot. They’ve got good coaches. Joker Phillips is recruiting me. He’s got a great personality, and I really like the DB coach, coach Brown. It seems like a real good staff there.”

McClinton says he’s putting recruiting on the back burner for the time being to concentrate on “priorities.”

“I’ve got to take care of business with my test score,” he said. “I’m working hard on that right now. I’ve got a 2.7 GPA, and I think it will be 3.0 by the end of next year, but I need that test score.”

McClinton took the ACT on June 14.